Best Canon lenses in 2025: Get the best lens for your Canon camera this Amazon Prime Day

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Looking to upgrade your Canon camera? Changing the lens can give it a new lease of life, but with so many lenses on offer, where do you start? With help from our expert reviewers, we have rounded up the best Canon lenses. It is important to note that Ef lenses are for Canon’s DSLR range and RF lenses are for use with Canon’s EOS R range of mirrorless cameras. Our guide to the best Canon cameras can give you a more detailed look at the range of Canon cameras that are available.

Now is one of the best times to purchase new photography gear with Amazon Prime Day coming next week on July 8. We expect many of these models to fall in price, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled!

You don’t have to have a Canon camera either, you can buy lens adapters that will let you use Canon’s lenses on the best cameras. If you are after a non-Canon lens, we have a guide to the best lenses for photo and video. Our guide to the best cameras for astrophotography is the best place to look if you are in the market for a new body.

There is a huge range of Canon lenses to choose from that are suitable for all kinds of photography, including astro. We have selected lenses that suit a range of purposes and pockets, from wide-angle lenses to ultra-powerful telephoto lenses. So, whether you are a pro or an enthusiastic amateur, you will find the right Canon lens for your Canon camera.

The quick list

Below you’ll find out our picks of the best Canon lenses for astrophotography, with explanation of what or who they’re best suited to. Click ‘Read more below’ for more in-depth specs and reviews for each lens.

Best Canon lenses we recommend in 2025

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Best ultra wide-angle lens

Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM

Best ultra wide-angle: Stunning wide-view images of the world

Specifications

Type: Full frame zoom

Mount type: Canon RF (mirrorless)

Focal range: 10-20mm

Aperture range: f/4 fixed

Autofocus: Yes

Thread size: N/A

Weight: 1.3lbs / 570g

Reasons to buy

+

Unmatched wide field of view

+

Surprisingly light

+

Excellent image quality

Reasons to avoid

Does not support front filters

Aperture not ideal for low-light

Buy it if:

✅ You want amazing ultra-wide shots: This is Canon’s best wide-angle lens, great especially for landscapes.

✅ You want great image stabilization: This camera’s IS means less judder when you’re using it handheld.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You want it for astrophotography only: This camera’s f/4 aperture lets less light in than some.

❌ You’re on a budget: Its ultra-wide angle performance comes with a price tag.

The bottom line

🔎 As Canon’s widest-angle lens, the Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM excels at capturing more of the world. ★★★★

The Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM is Canon’s widest sngle lense and, with up to an astonishing 130˚ field of view, it absolutely shows.

It’s weather-sealed, as with the rest of Canon’s L range, and is ideally suited to capturing landscapes, architecture, the night sky and more. That said, while it will capture a wide swathe of the cosmos, its f/4 aperture isn’t as light-gathering as some of the other models on our list.

Despite this, it’s surprisingly lightweight, light enough to be held in your hand, making its 5 stops of stabilization a real boon.

User reviews:

Users are seriously impressed with this lens, in particular its use for landscape photography. They compare it to a fisheye, though with less distortion.


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Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Sturdy build, water-sealed

Performance

Amazing wide-angle images

Functionality

Built in image stabilization

Best RF wide-angle lens

Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM

Best RF wide-angle lens: An excellent quality wide-angle lens that won’t weigh you down.

Specifications

Type: Full frame zoom

Mount type: Canon RF (mirrorless)

Focal range: 16-28mm

Aperture range: f/2.8 fixed

Autofocus: Yes

Thread size: 67mm

Weight: 1.0lbs / 445g

Reasons to buy

+

Excellent viewing angle

+

Superb image quality

+

Lightweight

Reasons to avoid

No weather sealing

Zoom could be better

Buy it if:

You’re want an excellent wide-angle lens: This lens offers excellent quality and image stabilisation.

✅ You want a lightweight lens: At under 500g, it won’t add much bulk to your kit.

Don’t buy it if:

You’ll be using it in damp conditions: This lens is not weather-sealed.

You want a high zoom: At 16-28mm, this lens’s zoom is slightly underwhelming.

The bottom line

🔎 If you’re not desperate for a high zoom, the Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM is an excellent wide-angle RF lens, suitable for astrophotography, nature-watching and a range of other purposes. ★★★★

This Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM lens is pleasingly lightweight, coming in at under 500g. It’s dust and moisture resistant, though not specifically weather sealed. It doesn’t come with a lens hood, likely a cost-cutting measure, but you can purchase one separately.

You can count on the Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM to deliver excellent quality images. It boasts 5.5-stops of optical image stabilisation to eliminate judder, and its f/2.8 fixed aperture is a boon for low-light shooting, astrophotography included.

User reviews:

Users of this lens report being happy with its image quality, praising its image stabilization in particular. They also mention its whisper quiet autofocus is excellent for video and it compares to other cameras at higher price-points.


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Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Solid, not weather sealed

Performance

Fast and quiet autofocus

Functionality

Constant f/2.8 aperture

Best RF lens for astrophotography

Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM

Best RF for astrophotography: A large aperture makes this ideal for night-time shots.

Specifications

Type: Full frame prime

Mount type: Canon RF (mirrorless)

Focal range: 20mm

Aperture range: f/1.4 to f/16

Autofocus: Yes.

Thread size: 67mm

Weight: 1.14lb / 519g

Reasons to buy

+

Gathers plenty of light

+

Manual iris ring

+

Weather sealed

Reasons to avoid

No built in optical stabilization

Buy it if:

✅ You’re buying for astrophotography: You’ll get clear, sharp images in low-light conditions.

✅ You want pro-features: One of Canon’s hybrid lenses, it features some pro-features like an iris ring.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re using this with a non-IBIS camera: This lens relies on the camera’s own image stabilization.

❌ You want a zoom lens: As a prime lens, it doesn’t have zoom functionality.

The bottom line

🔎 The Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM’s aperture makes it excellent for astrophotography and it’s impressively flexible all-round. ★★★★

The Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM is part of Canon’s hybrid range, designed to offer pro-level features without a top-tier price. As well as its wide aperture it features a manual iris ring as well as a control ring, all astrophotography-friendly features. It’s equally capable as still or video camera.

It doesn’t have built-in image stabilization, meaning you’ll need to couple it with a camera which does have IS. However, you’ll get some impressively sharp images out of this camera whether you’re shooting as is or pairing it with one of the best telescopes for astrophotography.

User reviews:

Users of the Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM report being impressed by its build quality, and by the camera in general. However, some have reported edge distortion when shooting to raw.


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Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Lightweight, hybrid lens

Performance

Excellent image quality

Functionality

Manual aperture ring

Biggest aperture lens

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM

Biggest aperture lens: This massive aperture admits plenty of light

Specifications

Type: Full frame prime

Mount type: Canon RF (mirrorless)

Focal range: 85mm

Aperture range: f/1.2 – f/16

Autofocus: Yes

Thread size: 112mm

Weight: 3lbs / 1,360g

Reasons to buy

+

Huge aperture for low-light conditions

+

Excellent image quality

+

Weather sealed

Reasons to avoid

No image stabilization

Extremely heavy

Buy it if:

✅ You want to shoot in low light: This camera’s huge aperture drinks in every drop of light.

✅ You want a pro-level lens: It’s not cheap but this camera delivers fantastic image quality.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You want a lightweight lens: This lens has real heft and can dwarf a compact DSLR.

The bottom line

🔎 The Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM’s wide aperture makes it excellent for astro work and, lack of a zoom aside, it offers excellent quality in other areas. ★★★★

At a massive f/1.2, this camera’s massive aperture drinks in light, making it an excellent option for close-up astrophotography such as photographing planets. However, it’s not a wide-angle lens so it’s less suitable for capturing the whole cosmos.

Its quality is superb, offering super sharp images, with the kind of quality optics you’d expect from Canon. Even five years after its release, this remains one of Canon’s most impressive lenses. Its manual focus ring and digital control ring give you the power to fine-tune your shots.

The trade off, apart from it not being cheap, is that it’s a huge lens, weight around 3lbs / 1360g. Be prepared for this to add a lot of heft to your camera, particularly if you’ve got a compatible but compact DSLR.

User reviews:

With its 85mm range, it may not be seen as a complete all-rounder, but users report it offering excellent quality for landscapes, portraits and more. A few have stated autofocus makes an audible noise, which could be an issue if recording video.

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Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Heavy, weather-sealed

Performance

Excellent image quality, superb for low-light

Functionality

Adjustable control ring, no image stabilization

Best telephoto lens

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Best telephoto lens: Get closer to your subjects with this amazing zoom lens

Specifications

Type: Full frame zoom

Mount type: Canon RF (mirrorless)

Focal range: 100-300mm

Aperture range: f/2.8 fixed

Autofocus: Yes

Thread size: 82mm

Weight: 5.84lbs / 2,650g

Reasons to buy

+

Fantastic zoom range

+

Good low-light performance

+

Excellent image quality

Reasons to avoid

Super heavy

Extremely expensive

Buy it if:

✅ You’re a pro-photographer: This super-expensive lens offers an amazing zoom range but it’s not cheap.

✅ You have a sturdy high-quality tripod: At nearly 6lbs, you won’t be holding this in your hands.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re on a budget: This lens’s five-figure price puts it out of the range of amateurs.

❌ You have a bank of filters: This lens doesn’t support drop-in filters.

The bottom line

🔎 The Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM is the ultimate pro-level telephoto lens suitable for astrophotography, long-distance photography and more, but it comes with a price tag to match. ★★★★½

At nearly six pounds, the Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM requires a sturdy tripod, but the results it’ll deliver make it worth the effort. It offers stunning image quality at all zoom levels; it may have a hefty price tag but you’re getting what you pay for.

This lens’s excellent low-light performance means it’s outstanding for astrophotography and night-time wildlife shoots. Its manual zoom, focus and control rings give offer you price control over your shoot.

It doesn’t support drop-in filters, only screw on-filters, which may be a disappointment to some. But if you’re looking for the ultimate Canon telephoto lens, this is it.

User reviews:

Users of this lens praise it as one of the best telephoto lenses they’ve used. They’re stunned by with its image quality, mentioning that there’s next to no distortion.


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Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Excellent build quality, water sealed

Performance

Stunning images regardless of zoom

Functionality

Flexible zoom, image stabilization

Best EF wide-angle lens

Best EF for wide-angle: Excellent wide-field images in low-light conditions.

Specifications

Type: Full frame zoom

Mount type: Canon EF (DSLR)

Focal range: 16-35mm

Aperture range: F/2.8 fixed

Autofocus: Yes

Thread size: 82mm

Weight: 790g

Reasons to buy

+

Pin sharp image quality across the entire field

+

Superb color correction

+

Rapid and accurate autofocus

Reasons to avoid

Very expensive

Heavy

Buy it if:

✅ You want wide-angle astrophotography: This lens is superb for capturing wide swathes of the night sky.

You want high-quality pictures: Even in low-light conditions, this lens offers superb image quality.

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re on a budget: This lens is powerful but it’s far from cheap.

❌ You want a large maximum aperture: While this will take good night sky shots you can get larger than f/2.8.

The bottom line

🔎 The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM is aimed at more experienced photographers and, while not cheap, it delivers amazing wide-field images, whether that’s astronomical or terrestrial. ★★★★★

In our review of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM we said “It delivers superb results worthy of its price tag”, and that still stands. This isn’t a cheap lense, but it delivers superb image quality, with fast and accurate autofocus.

It has the flexibility to capture impressive wide-field images of virtually any subject, low-light shoots included. It lacks image stabilization, but its color correction is hard to beat and we rank it as one of the best cameras for astrophotography. Its superb build quality is the icing on the cake.

User reviews:

Users of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM are similarly positive about this lens, praising not only its image quality and autofocus but also its versatility. The only real complaints relate to its weight.

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Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L III USM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Heavy but excellent build quality.

Performance

Superb image quality.

Functionality

Autofocus is fast and accurate, though no image stabilization.

Best EF lens for astrophotography

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM

Best EF for astrophotography: An ideal lens for skywatchers

Specifications

Type: Full frame zoom

Mount type: Canon EF (DSLR)

Focal range: 24mm

Aperture range: F/1.4L fixed

Autofocus: Yes

Thread size: 77mm

Weight: 650g

Reasons to buy

+

Excellent low light performance

+

Weather sealed

+

Near-silent autofocus

Reasons to avoid

Not cheap

No image stabilization

Buy it if:

✅ You’re a keen astrophotographer: This lens is excellent for low-light shooting.

✅ You want a waterproof lens: The L series, this lens included, are water sealed

Don’t buy it if:

❌ You’re on a budget: This lens is aimed at top-level enthusiasts and pros, and has a price to match,

The bottom line

🔎 The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM is a superb lens for astrophotography and offers pro performance in other areas. ★★★★

If you’re after a lens that excels at astrophotography and has the quality and performance for general use, the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 L II USM is for you. Its massive aperture drinks in light, and its has an impressively wide field of view. It doesn’t have image stabilization, so you’ll need a camera that does have IS. However, astrophotographers will likely be using a tripod anyway.

Its 24mm focal range means it’s not ideal for close up portraits but it’s excellent for shots where you want to show a subject in context. And while no-one wants to get rained off, the lens is weather-sealed to prevent water damage.

User reviews:

Users are mostly positive about this lens, praising its ability to capture stunning images of the cosmos. Some but not all have mentioned vignetting at full aperture, though going down a couple of stops vastly reduces it.

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EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

Attributes

Notes

Design

Sturdy design, water-sealed

Performance

Superb low-light performance

Functionality

Manual override via focus ring, no image stabilization

Best Canon lenses: Comparison

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Product

Mount type

Focal range

Aperture range

Autofocus

Thread size

Weight

Canon RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM

Canon RF

16-28mm

f/2.8 fixed

Yes

67mm

1.0lbs / 445g

Canon RF 20mm f/1.4 L VCM

Canon RF

20mm

f/1.4 to f/16

Yes

67mm

519g (1.3 lb)

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM

Canon EF

16-35mm

f/2.8 fixed

Yes

82mm

790g

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

Canon EF

24mm

f/1.4L fixed

Yes

82mm

650g

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM

Canon RF

85mm

f/1.2 – f/16

Yes

82mm

1360g

Canon RF 100-300mm f/2.8 L IS USM

Canon RF

100-300mm

f/2.8 fixed

Yes

112mm

5.84lbs / 2,650g

Canon RF 10-20mm f/4 L IS STM

Canon RF

10-20mm

f/4 fixed

Yes

N/A

1.65lbs / 750g

Best Canon lenses: Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between EF and RF lenses?

Canon’s RF lenses are designed for use with Canon’s EOS R range of mirrorless cameras, while EF lenses are designed for Canon DSLR cameras. Canon hasn’t abandoned DSLRs, but many manufacturers are leaning towards mirrorless due to their superior quality and imaging technology. RF lenses are typically more powerful, more lightweight and faster. For a more thorough look at Canon’s camera range, we have a guide to the best Canon cameras.

How many stops of image stabilization does the Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM have?

The Canon RF 16-28mm f/2.8 IS STM lens has an image stabilization value of 5.5 stops but when combined with a Canon EOS R camera like the Canon EOS R5 II, the total level of image stabilization reaches eight stops. This is because the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) from the camera combines with the lens’s image stabilization ability.

Not all lenses have image stabilization but a lot of newer Canon cameras have strong IBIS, which can reduce the need for independent image stabilization on the lens.

If you primarily shoot telephoto or handheld in low-light conditions, then an image-stabilized lens would be a huge benefit. Large values of image stabilization allow the camera to use longer shutter speeds and lower ISOs to let in more light and create better exposure. It works through a system of gyro sensors that detect movement, which then signal motors to shift floating lens elements and bend the light to counteract hand movement.

Can you use an EF lens on an EOS R camera body?

Yes, you can use an EF lens on an EOS R camera body if you have a lens adapter like this K&F Concept EF to EOS R adapter. While we would recommend getting RF lenses to use with your EOS R camera for the best performance, using an EF lens with an adapter can be a great way to save money when buying a new lens so it is worth considering.

You cannot use an RF lens on a Canon DSLR because there are currently no adapters that make this possible.

Can you use a Canon EF lens on a non-Canon camera?

We highly recommend using a Canon lens with a Canon camera for optimum performance but if you are set on a certain Canon lens and have a different brand camera body, there are ways to make it work.

We would recommend an adapter like this Viltrox EF-Z Lens adapter that makes EF lenses compatible with Nikon Z-mount cameras. Other models are compatible with different brand mirrorless systems so you will need to check that you can get a compatible filter for your camera first before committing to a Canon lens.

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